Goby & pistol questions

[LagunaGlide]

I got a tiger pistol and pink spot watchman. They went through QT together, and paired up almost immediately. They recently went into the DT and I managed to get them into a hole in a rock that they both went in. Day one seemed ok, and the pistol immediately went to work moving sand about. Later that day both retreated into the rock, and didn't come out. The next day the goby was visible, but not leaving the rock. On day 3 I noticed a new spot on the other side of the tank that was burrowed out, and the goby still hiding in the rock. I would have to assume the pistol left the goby in the middle of the night. Is this normal? The goby has not come out to sift sand or eat or do anything since the shrimp left. He often perches on the edge of the rock hole and watches a cleaner shrimp.

Just not sure what I can or should do. Obviously I want the two paired up. Should I catch the goby or scare him out of the hole in hopes I can direct him towards the pistols new burrow? I am concerned with never seeing it eat. What are thoughts here?

 

[DeniseAndy]

The shrimp will make burrows all over with under sand tunnels and such. The fish will use these and probably pop up in different places. I am sure they are still paired up. They will help each other as normal. Super fun to watch.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Give them time to settle. They will pr up.

 

[mahindra.dev]

Agreed with above replies. The shrimp makes its own holes like tunnels. For me they used to stay under one big rock but made multiple holes!! Unfortunately lost the goby as a jumper and I know the shrimp is still there but can’t see him. I do see holes pop up and hear the click sounds!!!

 

[LagunaGlide]

I imagine one day they will find each other again. I know the pistol will do his thing under the sand, but when I say moved to other side of tank it’s a good distance being a 6ft tank.

I’ll let them settle in for awhile and see how it goes. Hopefully the goby will come out of hiding soon.

 

[DeniseAndy]

They will find each other again. :)

 

[eatbreakfast]

In the wild they find each other, and that can be a much greater distance than 6 feet.

 

[Adele]

My pair disappear for days/weeks. Then I will se the Goby and no Pistol for longer. Then as they did last night both made a curtain call.

 

[lion king]

My yellow watchman goby was so lazy, or incompetent. Pistol was always cruising around alone, I thought it was the goby's job to protect him. If anything happened, the goby was back in the hole before the pistol, so funny. They had several openings, one was stacked with dead snails, like skulls to the entrance. Dont put any small frags on the sand bed or low down, my pistol would drag them into his den, he took one very nice acan frag I couldn't recover.